![[Queen's colours for RAF]](../images/g/gb^qcraf.gif)
image by Martin Grieve, 25 June 2006
Last modified: 2012-01-21 by rob raeside
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image by Martin Grieve, 25 June 2006
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From Barraclough and Crampton, page 41:
As in the Royal Navy and the Army the Royal Air Force has 'colours' for use on ceremonial occasions; these were approved in principle by the late King George VI in December 1947. They comprise:
(1) The Queen's Colour for the Royal Air Force in the United Kingdom.
(2) The Queen's Colour for individual units; and
(3) The standard for individual operational squadrons.
All three are made of silk and are similar to the Colours used by the Navy and the Army. The Queen's Colour for the Royal Air Force is in the form of the Royal Air Force Ensign, with the Royal Cypher in gold, ensigned with the Royal Crown in proper colours in the centre.
![[Queen's colours for RAF]](../images/g/gb'qcraf.gif)
image by Martin Grieve, 25 June 2006Christopher Southworth prepared a construction sheet based on the illustration
by Graham Bartram in BR20. If the flag was
introduced in 1947 as we are informed, then the Colour would have contained the
Royal Cypher of George VI, ensigned with a Tudor crown of course. This would
have changed in 1953, when Her Majesty, Queen Elizabeth II took the throne.
Martin Grieve, 25 June 2006
The QC's of the RAF and Royal Marines are the only two sets which use the
standard 'Admiralty pattern' of Union Flag, whereas those of the
Royal Navy and Army each have their own unique
variation.
Christopher Southworth, 25 June 2006
![[Queen's colours for RAF canton construction sheet]](../images/g/gb'uj-4x5.gif)
image by Martin Grieve, 21 July 2006
Compare to the Queen's colours of the Royal Navy Union canton construction sheet
The Queen's
Colour presented on 1 April 1968 (the 50th anniversary of the RAF's creation)
was that of the RAF in the UK. It replaced a colour presented by King George VI
on 16 May 1951.
The oldest colour is that for the RAF College, Cranwell, which was the first to
be presented, on 6 July 1948. It was replaced 30 May 1975.
Other colours have been presented to the RAF as follows:
No.1 School of Technical Training, RAF Halton: 25 July 1952
RAF Regiment: 17 March 1953, replaced 1967
Near East Air Force: 14 October 1960, laid up 31 May 1976
Far East Air Force: 13 July 1961, laid up 13 June 1972
Central Flying School: 26 June 1969
RAF Germany: 16 September 1970
Royal Auxiliary Air Force: presented 1989 - see
http://www.rafreserves.com/hm_the_queen.htm
The idea for RAF colours originated in 1943 (see note below on
the significance of 1943), on the 25th anniversary of the service, but because
of wartime austerity measures, it was not possible to present any until after
the War's end. I don't think it had been intended to deprive the RAF of colours
for 25 years, but rather, it was an idea for the 25th anniversary. Of those
above, only Halton and Cranwell had a pre-war existence.
RAF squadrons have standards. These have to have completed 25 years' service in
either the RAF, Royal Auxiliary Air Force (the part-time reserve service), the
Royal Flying Corps or Royal Naval Air Service (these last two were the
predecessors of the RAF) before a standard can be presented. Alternatively, a
squadron can receive a standard for 'outstanding operations'. The regulations
appear as Air Ministry Order A866 of 1943. Again, wartime austerity measures
prevented their manufacture and presentation until the early 1950s.
Thirty squadrons immediately qualified, twenty-eight under the 25 year rule, and
two (120 and 617) under the outstanding operations rule. The first standards
bore a border of roses, thistles and shamrocks; then someone pointed out there
was nothing to represent Wales, so those still at the embroiderers had to have
leeks hurriedly embroidered into the borders before they could be presented.
First squadron: No.1, on 25 April 1953
First Auxiliary squadron: No.600 (City of London), in May 1953
First standard with leeks in the border: 605 (County of Warwick) RAuxAF, 11th
March 1954
Standards are 32 inches on the staff x 48 inches (that's 81cm x 122cm, metric
fans :-)). The staff itself is 97 inches (246 cm) with a gilt eagle finial.
I have not seen a justification for the 25-year rule. It may be something to do
with the fact that many squadrons are disbanded at the end of a war, and so do
not have a continuous existence, unlike, say the regiments of the British Army
(battalions are disbanded, yes, but rarely whole regiments).
Ian Sumner, 12 December 2002
1943 was also the year in which the RAF Ensign was added to the flags on the
national war memorial in London. This is a cenotaph in Whitehall, the street
leading from Trafalgar Square to Parliament Square. It was unveiled on 11
November 1920 with a Union Jack, White Ensign and Red Ensign on one side, and a
Union Jack, White Ensign and Blue Ensign on the other. After the RAF Ensign was
instituted in 1921 it was occasionally suggested that it should be added to the
flags on the Cenotaph. The idea was always rejected on the grounds that the
ensign had not existed during the war, and that the Royal Air Force had not been
formed until seven months before the end of the war.
In February 1943 Chief of the Air Staff, Air Marshall Sir Charles Portal,
obtained the informal agreement of Buckingham Palace, to an Air Council request,
that the Royal Air Force should be represented on the Cenotaph by the addition
of an RAF Ensign on each side of the monument. This was passed on to the Prime
Minister, Winston Churchill, who replied that he did not want any changes. A
second attempt to obtain his approval was made by obtaining the agreement of the
First Lord of the Admiralty, and the Secretary of State at the War Office, that
an RAF Ensign should be substituted for an existing flag. The Prime Minister was
still opposed to any change, but abided by a Cabinet decision that the RAF
Ensign should replace one of the White Ensigns.
The Admiralty asked that there should be no ceremony, and that the substitution
should be done unobtrusively by the minimum number of persons. All the flags on
the Cenotaph were changed immediately after dawn on 1 April 1943, an RAF Ensign
replacing the White Ensign on the west side. At 1130 a Royal Air Force Regiment
guard paraded at the Cenotaph and a wreath was placed beneath the RAF Ensign.
[Public Record Office, PREM 4/3/12, AIR 2/6698, ADM 1/12550]
David Prothero, 13 December 2002
Standard of Number One Squadron
![[RAF Squadron standard]](../images/g/gb^raf1.gif)
located by David Prothero
This standard of Number One Squadron is from Standards Guidons and Colours of
the Commonwealth Forces by T.J. Edwards. Description of the badges of the
squadrons listed, is listed below.
Air Ministry Order 886, 9 September 1943: Institution of RAF Ceremonial Flag.
David Prothero, 8 January 2004
Badges of RAF Squadrons entitled to a Standard:
1. Winged Number One : In Omnibus Princeps.
2. Carrick Bend (Wake's Knot) superimposed on RAF Roundel : Hereward.
3. Cockatrice : Tertius Primus Erit.
4. Thunder Bolt superimposed on Radiant Sun : In Futurum Videre.
5. Maple Leaf : Frangas Non Electas.
6. Eagle grasping a Snake : Oculi Exercitus.
7. Constellation Ursa Major : Per Diem Per Noctem.
8. Oriental Dagger : Uspiam et Passim.
11. Two Eagles flying : Ociores Acrioresque Aquilis.
12. Fox's Mask : Leads the Field.
14. Winged St George's Circular Shield, surmounted by Helm : (Arabic
inscription).
20. Flying Eagle grasping a Sword, superimposed on Rising Sun : Facta Non Verba.
24. Black Grouse Displaying : In Omnia Parati.
25. Hawk, wings spread, on a Glove : Feriens Tego.
27. Elephant : Quam Celerrime Ad Astra.
28. Pegasus rising from behind an Axe and Fascine : Quicquid Agas Age.
30. Palm Tree : Ventre A Terre.
31. Five Pointed Star superimposed on a Garland : In Caelum Indicum Primus.
32. Badge is a golden hunting horn on a blue ribbon and the motto is "Adeste
Comites".
39. Winged Bomb : Die Noctuque.
45. Winged Camel : Per Ardua Surgo.
47. Heron's Head superimposed on a Circle of Heraldic Waves : Nili Nomen Roboris
Omen.
55. Arm holding Spear : Nil Nos Tremefacit.
56. Phoenix : Quid Si Coelum Ruat.
60. Curly Horned Antelope Head : Per Ardua Ad Aethera Tendo.
70. Winged Lion Couped : Usquam.
84. Scorpion : Scorpiones Pungunt.
100. Scull and Cross Bones : Sarang Tebuan Jangan Dijolok.
207. Winged Lion Standing : Sember Paratus.
208. Sphinx : Vigilant.
216. Eagle grasping a Bomb : CCXVI Dona Ferrens.
120. Hawk standing on North Pole of Couped Globe : Endurance.
617. Thunder Bolts breaching a Dam : Apres Moi Le Deluge.
David Prothero, 8 January 2004
The standards of disbanded squadrons are mostly kept at the RAF College at
Cranwell, Sleaford, Lincolnshire NG34 8HB, although a few have been laid up in
local churches.
Ian Sumner, 30 July 2004
In October 1999, 600 Sqn reformed at RAF Northolt from joining and "Re-badging"
No 1 and 3 Maritime HQ Units of the RAuxAF. However, the powers that be have
refused to reissue a replacement Standard stating that we are not a flying Sqn,
nor a Sqn or the RAF Regiment, and so are not "Operational", and secondly,
although we hold the 600 Sqn number, we are not the same 600 Sqn as the one
awarded the Standard, and so the previous award doesn't count. Our original
standard therefore remains laid up in the church of St Bartholomew the Great in
the City of London, and we have no hope of a replacement.
Robin van Geene, 23 August 2005
Although the decision by the Air Council to restrict the issue of standards
to 'operational' squadrons was not unanimous when they were introduced in 1943,
that became the rule (National Archives AIR 6/74). In 1964, when the RAF
Handling Squadron at Boscombe Down applied for a standard (presumably under the
25- year rule), it was rejected on the grounds that standards were only
presented to operational squadrons, that is, those engaged with the enemy (AIR
2/16314). So there is a precedent.
The question of breaks in service particularly exercised the RAF Regiment in
1964. Many of its squadrons were coming close to qualifying under the 25-year
rule, but the Air Ministry deemed that there were breaks in their service when
they had been renumbered, once during the Second World War, and again in 1947.
At the time, the Ministry claimed that the rule (25 years _with the same
squadron number_) was 'inflexibile' (AIR 2/14138).
I have found nothing in the documents at Kew to suggest that a squadron once
granted a standard was refused permission to continue to carry it, no matter how
long the break in service. That was surely the reason why the 25 year rule was
dreamed up, so that squadrons should not be disadvantaged by the disbandments
following the end of both World Wars. It may be the 'operational rule' that is
the one that counts.
Ian Sumner, 24 August 2005
![[ceremonial standard for RAF]](../images/g/gb^raf_cer.jpg)
image located by Joe McMillan, 5 April 2010
Source (more detailed image): http://www.raf.mod.uk/
Why XXIV and not 24 on this flag?
Most squadron badges have Arabic numerals, but a significant minority have
Roman numerals. Badges were designed by, or at least approved by, unit
commanders, and the choice was presumably theirs. More information at
http://www.griffon.clara.net/rafh/press1.htm. Other pages on the site have
details of standards and illustrations of badges.
David Prothero, 6
April 2010
![[Queen's colours of RAF regiment]](../images/g/gb^rafrt.gif)
image by Martin Grieve, 9 August 2008
The Queen's Colours of the Far East Air Force was in the standard design
featuring the Union Flag in the canton and the cypher 'E II R' and crown in the
centre. The lower fly was embroidered with the Chinese junk surmounting a pair
of keris in saltire (Malay daggers), which was from their unit emblem.
(Headquarters Far East Air Force unit emblem can be seen at:
http://www.raf-changi-assn.org/ ).
David Prothero had informed me earlier that the Colour is now laid up at St.
Clements Danes Church in London.
Herman FMY, 28 January 2004
